Today The Patriot-News ran the following op-ed by Representative Dwight Evans.
On a night in June, more than 400 people gathered in Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg to watch Gamut Classic Theatre’s production of “Cymbeline,” a Shakespeare farce filled with intrigue, confusion and, of course, love.
It was a perfect night: The weather cooperated, people of all ages picnicked in the grass, and the production was outstanding. It was the kind of event that strengthens a community, bringing together teens and senior citizens, families with children, single adults and empty nesters. And it was free.
Before the show, a troupe member urged the audience to support the arts. “Call your legislators,” she said. “Tell them not to cut funding for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.”
What she should have said was: “Thank you. You made this happen. Your state tax dollars helped pay for this production.”
Therein lies the rub for those of us fighting to craft a state budget: making Pennsylvanians understand how valuable their tax dollars are to the greater good of the commonwealth.
You pay for so much more than roads, bridges and schools. As a taxpayer, you support the state park system including nearby Little Buffalo State Park. You pay for our commonwealth’s outstanding museums and historic sites such as Fort Hunter. You’ve built local libraries, funded public television and provided the dollars needed for community events that showcase our artists, musicians, actors, crafters, singers and songwriters.
Because of you, our young people get vital grants to go to college, our seniors enjoy a better quality of life and our veterans get a myriad of services from a grateful commonwealth. You’ve educated and trained workers, created jobs and supported cultural programs that make Harrisburg and central Pennsylvania an attractive place to live, work, play and visit.
We’re having the worst budget crisis in 18 years, one unlike any we’ve ever seen. Our revenue shortfall for the 2008-09 fiscal year was $3.2 billion. That means our revenue base for the 2009-10 budget is similarly lower.
In addition, our costs continue to rise for health care for our elderly and the disabled, for operating our ever-growing prison system and repaying our debt.
This is not about overspending. We are living through an international financial crisis that has left Pennsylvania in an economic straitjacket. As such, there are those who believe the state should cut spending. I don’t disagree. We’ve cut more than $2.5 billion from the general fund.
But I’m troubled when I hear people say, “Act like a family and tighten your belt,” or “Do what business would do and cut costs.”
Government is not a family, and it can’t operate as a business. Government is the entity to which people turn when all other institutions fail, including families and businesses.
As the economy collapses, the pressure on the state to provide services and opportunity to Pennsylvanians increases. With more people out of work, unemployment costs grow. Workers throughout Pennsylvania, who were able to manage without state-supported health care, now need our help. Our training programs provide much needed support for those looking for jobs, and our day care centers provide the safe haven children need so their parents can continue to work.
As the economy declines, crime goes up. Thus do the costs for our police departments, courts and prisons. Our food banks are feeling the pressure as more families turn to them for help, and our libraries are bursting as more people use the resources tax dollars provide.
The political debate centers on making cuts or levying taxes. But solving the budget crisis is not an either/or proposition. While cuts to the budget are necessary, we can’t, as the Senate Republicans contend, cut our way out of this crisis. That would be tragic for millions of people, for programs and for places like central Pennsylvania. What’s more it would shift the cost to local communities, charities, churches or foundations, and it would force an increase in your property taxes. Cutting spending simply won’t eliminate the need.
Raising taxes, whether on businesses or individuals, is politically challenging. Practically, though, it’s an option we must consider. For a few dollars each, we can keep people employed, invest in our communities, provide education and health care and make a commitment to arts and culture. I believe Harrisburg is worth it. Pennsylvania is worth it.
REP. DWIGHT EVANS, D-Philadelphia, is chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.
